04-05-84 Safety Comm MinutesApril 5, 1984
SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Safety Committee met on this date at 4:00 P.M. in the Conference Room at City Hall.
Present were Councilmen Schindler, Springer and Manning, Mayor McDowell, Police Chief
Stefanic, Fire Chief Doty, Assistant Fire Chief Larson and Mr. John Jaeger, Manager of
North Star Communications, who services our present equipment.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the need for replacement of radio systems and
conversion to high band radio frequency for the Police and Fire Departments.
Chief Stefanic stated that about three years ago they realized the need to convert from
low band to high band radio frequency; the two most important reasons being that high
frequency overcomes the present problems of skips and atmospheric conditions. This re-
sults in a lot of interference during prime and high risk times. Most of the state law
enforcement agencies were well on the way to converting and the others plan to convert
soon.
Last year the department asked Motorola to provide a cost estimate on the conversion.
This has been received in the amount of $83,000. Chief Stefanic said that the depart-
ment attempted to budget that amount for the present year, but the item was eliminated
from the budget. He says there is no question of should, but rather, when can we do this.
Utilizing a different approach and substitution of equipment, Chief Stefanic and Air.
Jaeger have been able to reduce the total to about $74,000. He wants to budget this
amount this year, or at least a substantial start on it and complete the next year if
possible. The entire radio system should be replaced. The Fire Department also has
obsolete equipment, and both departments should be considered at the same time. There
is no possibility of Federal funding. Chief Stefanic stated that the last state legis-
lature introduced a two million dollar bill to help bring about state-wide conversion
but the bill was killed. There is a possibility that it might be presented again.
The Sheriff's office is planning to convert to high band in approximately two years and
the possibility of consolidating dispatching was discussed. For the time being, aside
from budget problems, the Sheriff's office cannot get a license for 110 watts on Big
Mountain; this would cause interference with Canada's existing frequencies. We have an
international agreement that above the 48th parallel we must have Canadian permission
for high band frequency for any given power. Because of the size of the Sheriff's area,
height is needed, and Buffalo Hill will not give sufficient coverage. Motorola is
attempting to work out a solution with directional antenna to keep the majority of the
signal headed this way instead of Canada.
Mr. Jaeger explained the technology of the system concept. With the multi receiver sys-
tem, three receivers are placed on a basic triangle throughout the city; they feed into
the main box which selects the best receive signal and feeds that into the center. The
Police and Fire Departments could be combined. The Highway Patrol is changing over next
year with locations for head offices here, in Helena, Billings and Glasgow. These
offices can control the entire MT Highway Patrol.
Chief Stefanic stated that we will need the same amount of equipment even if we donot
consolidate, but it would be transferable should consolidation come about. He will be
asking for $74,632 on July 1 but being prudent, hopes for some then and more the next
year.
Mr. Jaeger explained that we could get the console for $16,000, a control center for the
•Fire Department would be $4,000. It will be difficult, he said, to do this piecemeal.
If we must phase in, it would be better to go with the console and fixed equipment with
half the mobiles and half the portables now and the rest later. Next year's prices will
no doubt be higher, but he could not give assurance of a dollar amount.
Safety Committee Page 2 April 5, 1984
Fire Chief Doty stated that his department asked for a bid 1} years ago and received one
for $2,700. This amount was put into the budget, and last September the bid came in at
$11,000. The $2,700 still budgeted could be applied on the $4,000. It would be most
practical to tie into the Police Department system now as the S2,700 cannot carry over
into next year's budget.
Assistant Fire Chief Larson related the Fire Department's basic needs, along with the
console, would be 3 mobiles for the 3 ambulances. The remote upstairs is low band but
would not have to be replaced.
Discussion of the Water Department's system followed. Since their system is new, about
2 years, it shouldn't have to be changed for 10 to 20 years. It wouldn't be feasible to
combine with Water Department, cant do two frequencies simultaneously. A secondary
channel can be multi -frequency but the primary has to be the law enforcement channel.
More information must be obtained for committee action.
Meeting adjourned at 5:00 P.M.
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